Monday, June 04, 2007

What a great day for comments, yesterday. Many thanks. I’m pretty sure I now see how to proceed in the matter of adding buttons to my sidebar – I learned what little I know in a different decade, and tend not to think of right-clicking. Donna, thank you for the code: that was really, really kind of you. I like the turtle-neck shrug, too. It’s gonna be gorgeous.

I finished Sam’s body yesterday – he looks not so much three-dimensional as eviscerated at the moment – and have also finished one of the four cuffs which come next. I’ll do my very best to polish off the other three and start attaching them this evening, and whatever happens will try to leave you with a picture before heading off to the country tomorrow.

But we may have to wait for the denouement until I get back next week. I promise a blow-by-blow when I get there, Jennifer. With pictures. I’ve now got Photoshop Elements, although I’ve been too scardy so far to install it. Maybe this will be the occasion – pictures of Sam’s feet with little arrows pointing to the exciting bits.

Donna W., I’m so glad to hear that you’ve bought “Heirloom Knitting”. I think it is the most important knitting book to be published in English for a long time. And the Spring Shawl is beautiful – I don’t have that one. I think I’d use Sharon’s own Merino lace yarn (slightly finer than Shetland cobweb), at least, I would if Sharon agreed. I am sure she will advise if asked.

And Charlotte, thank you for the advice about grafting ribbing. I’m not sure that flipping-over is going to be possible in this context, when I am joining up Sam’s tummy, but I will keep your splendid suggestion in mind when I commence battle. I’ve got shelves of books, too.

I forgot one piece of news yesterday – Natalie at The Yarn Yard has given up her day job – I didn’t know she had one – to concentrate fully on her beautiful yarn. She also provides a link to BritKnitCast - a UK knitting and crochet podcast, a new one to me and clearly a useful site, even before I’ve listened to any podcasts. The Yarn Yard appears on their list of independent UK yarn dyers. I’m going to explore the other members of that list when I’ve got a moment.

7 comments:

Thanks for getting those comments, especially re. the html. I look at it and guess and copy but often get myself into trouble, much the same way when I listen and guess and copy in other foreign languages! And I received my copy of Heirloom Knitting over the weekend. I'd forgotten I'd ordered it(inspired by you among others) and arrived home to find a package marked Royal Mail. A gorgeous and encyclopedic book, looks to be worth every cent and more.

Jean, this is a comment regarding some posts of yours from quite awhile ago. You were looking for a nice yarn to make bed socks for youe husband if memory serves me correctly. I wanted to let you know I have just finished knitting a pair of socks out of a Noro yarn called Cashmere Island. The yarn is 60% wool, 30% cashmere and 10% nylon. If you are still looking for a candidate you might want to try this yarn out. I used 2 skeins for my size 7.5 feet. Anything larger would require 3 skeins. It is a bit pricey, but I think they should last quite some time. The lady I bought the yarn from said her daughter accidentally put her pair in the washer and dryer and they came out just fine, which seems another good feature.

Regarding grafting ribbing - it can be done the way described: instructions in Montse Stanley's Encyclopedia. But it does not stretch sideways when you do this. This may not be problem, depending where it is, but if you need the graft to stretch out the same as the ribbingit is joining you have to do something different - I don't know what.

Jean, as the Curmudgeon would say, it's a rare and handy thing to be able to ask a designer to suggest a yarn and to be assured of getting a reply! I received a note from Mike that my parcel shipped today. I'm hoping for its arrival on or before the 22nd, which is my birthday.Now to peruse the yarns thoroughly...Donna Wingfield